Apparatus for applying grouting material



April 1964 A J. E. NEWTON, sR., ETAL 3,130,652

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING GROUTING MATERIAL Filed Jan. 31, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 3a Rs I O7 3 TN N NW 0 E T w W W N i E 7N E E a m m m IJ BYfrmM,M3- KATTORNE YS 5O 45 lb April 28, 1964 J. E. NEWTON, SR, ETAL 3,130,652

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING GROUTING MATERIAL Filed Jan. 31, 1961 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS: IAMEs E. Newroufie.

5/7 JAMEs E. NEwToN,JE.

April 28, 1964 J. E. NEWTON, sR.. ETAL 3,130,652

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING GROUTING MATERIAL I Filed Jan. 51, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORSI 8 7 JAMES E. NEWTON) S52.

ana JA E$E.NEWT N,.I i f 9 BY afirmdzdiwi V ATTO E Ys April 28, 1964 J. E. NEWTON, sR.. ETAL 3,130,652

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING GRQUTING MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 31, 1961 INVENTORS 2 S S R r M .v m 0 N V R ww Y 0 EW 4. m NM M E 53 &E M MM I a w United States Patent 3,130,652 APPARATUS FDR APPLYING GROUTING NIATERIAL .iames E. Newton, 51:, and James E. Newton, In, Charlotte, NC, assignors to Newton Machine Company, The, Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed .lan. 31, 1961, Ser. No. 86,112 6 Claims. (Ci. 94-45) The present invention relates to the production of joints between adjacent concrete beams or slabs in building constructions and similar concrete surfacing structures by providing a novel apparatus for applying a semi-plastic cementitious composition, such as grouting material, in the gap defined between the concrete slabs.

More particularly, the present invention concerns an improved apparatus for installing grouting material in the gap defined between adjacent concrete slabs comprising the framework of a building to form a smooth strong joint therebetween capable of withstanding stresses and strains of substantial magnitude without cracking.

It has become common in the construction industry to erect buildings utilizing a framework of concrete beams or slabs, wherein the joints between adjacent concrete beams are formed by applying grouting material in the gaps therebetween. The application of grouting material in the gaps between adjacent concrete beams in the construction of a building has been largely a manual operation because of the lack of a practical apparatus which would be suitable for applying grouting material in relatively confined areas and usually at elevated heights. The manual application of grouting material to form joints between adjacent concrete beams is time-consuming and represents an expensive item in the over-all construction costs of the building.

Conventional road building apparatuses for installing semi-plastic joint material between adjacent sections of concrete pavement in the construction of roads have not been employed for forming joints between concrete beams in the construction of buildings to any extent. Such apparatuses for forming joints in road construction are bulky and cumbersome machines of heavy weight and are poorly adapted for use in areas of restricted size at elevated heights. In the latter respect, maneuverability of these road-joint apparatuses is limited, as it is difiicult to turn the apparatuses about within a small area. In attempting to utilize a conventional road-joint apparatus for applying grouting material in the gaps between adjacent concrete beams for forming joints in constructing a building, an operator would be required to turn the apparatus about after completing the application of grouting material along the entire length of each gap, even though little room would be available for such maneuvering, in order to place the apparatus in position to apply grouting material in another gap.

The necessary and often repeated turning movement of a road joint-forming apparatus, if employed in applying grouting material in the gaps between adjacent concrete beams in building construction, would be likely to cause a compacting means associated with the apparatus to become partially cocked in the grouting material filling the gap as the operator attempts to move the apparatus into position for applying grounting material in another gap. Some type of compacting means is normally desirable in a joint-forming apparatus to compress the joint material into the gap for giving the joint a finished appearance substantially flush with the surfaces of the adjacent concrete members. The grouting material, being of semiplastic consistency prior to hardening, will be disturbed by the compacting means under such conditions, thereby marring the appearance of the completed joint by mak- 3,130,652 Patented Apr. 28, 1964- "ice ing a depression therein while adversely affecting the strength of the joint.

The turning movement of a joint-forming apparatus of the type described is hindered to some extent by the compacting means associated with the joint-forming apparatus because of the lateral dragging action of the compacting means across the surface on which the apparatus stands as the apparatus is negotiated through the desired turn. This frictional drag between the compacting means and the surface on which the apparatus is disposed whenever the movement of the apparatus departs from a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the compacting means not only renders the turning of the apparatus difficult, but is further accompanied by a scuffing or defacing of the surface by the abrasive lateral dragging of the compacting means across the surface, thereby resulting in an unsightly blemish on the surface.

The motive means for propelling a road joint-forming apparatus and the rotatable extrusion screw or worm incorporated therein is commonly clutch-controlled, making it necessary to disengage a clutch in order to prevent continued rotation of the extrusion screw with the resulting discharge of joint material from the apparatus onto areas where such joint material is not needed or wanted. The clutch faces for frictionally engaging each other which comprises the clutch means are likely to be smeared or otherwise partially covered by semi-plastic joint material spilled during the operation of the road joint-forming apparatusa troublesome condition which may initially cause slipping to occur between the clutch faces with consequent erratic behavior of the apparatus and its extrusion screw followed by hardening of the joint material on the clutch faces which at the least would require expensive repairs or replacement of the clutch faces. Such hardening of the joint material on the clutch faces is responsible for a grabbing condition occurring between the clutch faces, thereby making it difiicult to disengage the clutch when it is desired to discontinue the extrusion of joint material from the apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved joint-forming apparatus for installing grounting material in the gap formed between adjacent concrete members, such as beams or slabs, wherein the apparatus includes a forwardly disposed tracking wheel for insertion in the gap between the adjacent concrete members to guide a dispensing nozzle alined therewith along the length of the gap for discharging grouting material in the gap, the dispensing nozzle being followed by a compacting means to compress the grouting material in the gap for forming a finished joint substantially flush with the surfaces of the adjacent concrete members, and the compacting means being retractable away from the joint in response to the turning movement of the forwardly disposed tracking wheel preparatory to moving the apparatus to a different location to prevent marring or defacing of the finished joint and the adjacent concrete surfaces, while facilitating the turning of the apparatus.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved joint-forming apparatus for installing grouting material in the groove defined between adjacent concrete slabs in the construction of a building, wherein the appmatus includes a forwardly disposed tracking wheel for reception within the groove to aline a dispensing means with the groove for discharging grouting material therein as the apparatus is guided along the longitudinal extent of the groove by the forwardly disposed tracking wheel. In this way, the tracking wheel by being partially confined within the groove also provides an effective safeguard against uncontrolled movement of the joint-forming apparatus with its attendant dangers, especially where the apparatus is placed in operation at elevated heightsthe tracking wheel and the side walls of the groove cooperating to the apparatus in its movement laterally of the groove.

It is a further object of thisv invention to provide a joint-forming apparatus for installing grouting material in the gap formed between adjacent concrete members having improved means for controlling the propulsion of the apparatus, the improved means taking the form of a retractable and extensible extra wheel carried on the frame of the apparatus, the extra wheel being lowered to an extended position to raise one side of the apparatus for unlocking the differential gearing of the apparatus, whereby the apparatus may be manually rolled to a desired location without discharging grouting materialthe extra wheel thereby eliminating the need for a clutch means in the apparatus for disengaging the extrusion screw to prevent its continued rotation and the discharge of grouting material together with the troubles and expense accompanying the use of a clutch means in such environment.

' Some of the objects of the invent-ion having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the improved apparatus for applying grouting material in accordance with the present invention with the compacting roller in lowered extended position;

FIGURE 2 is a rear end elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE 1, but showing the opposite side of the apparatus, with parts broken away, the tracking wheel being turned at an angle to the longitudinal extent of the apparatus and :the compacting roller being in raised retracted position;

FIGURE 4 is a forward end elevational View of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along the line 66 in FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view talken along the line 7-7 in FIG- URE 6;

FIGURES is an enlarged fragmentary ele-vational view taken substantially along the line 88 in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 99 in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 10 is :a fragmentary rear end elevational view similar to FIGURE 2, but showing the extra wheel of the apparatus in extended position to raise one side of the apparatus away from the surface on which the apparatus is disposed; and

FIGURE ll is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 1ll-11 in FIGURE 10.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the present apparatus concerns the application of a semi-plastic cementitious composition, such as grouting material, to a gap or groove defined between adjacent concrete slabs or beams forming the framework of a building, the groutmg material being applied in the gap to form a smooth strong joint connecting the concrete slabs. it will be understood, however, that the same principles advanced in using the apparatus herein disclosed are appropriate in installing semi-plastic joint material in any space or gap as may be required, such as for example in forming an expansion joint between adjacent pavement sections in road construction.

The apparatus has a main supporting carriage or frame 10 of substantially open rectangular configuration and comprising oppositely disposed side frame members 11, -12 interconnected by end frame members 13, 14. The

frame 10 mounted for rolling movement over a surface by a pair of rearwardly disposed wheels 15, 15 rotatably connected to the opposite side frame members 11 and 12 and by a single tracking wheel 16 extending forwardly of end frame member 13, the pair of rear wheels 15, 15 and the forward tracking wheel 16 being dependingly connected to the frame it) in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The rear pair of wheels 15, 15 are mounted on transverse axles 17, i7 journaled within axle housings 18, 1-8 mid suitably connected through a gear differential 20. The axle housings 1'8, 18 are secured to the respective side frame members 11, 12 by means of suitable axle brackets 21, 21 depending fro-m the frame 10.

The forward tracking wheel 16 has a stub axle 22, the opposite ends of which are journaled in the legs of a U-shaped yoke 23 which partially receives the tracking Wheel 16 within the channel defined thereby. Means are provided to mount the tracking wheel 16 for pivotal turning movement about an axis transverse to the axis of the stub axle 22 for the tracking wheel 16. In the latteir connection, the frame It) includes a pair of strut members 24, 24 rigidly secured to the opposite ends of the forward end frame member 13 and converging outwardly therefrom for securement to a vertical tubular sleeve 25 which is disposed in vertical alinement With the yoke 23 and the tracking wheel 16 rotatably carried thereby. A vertically disposed steering column or shaft 26 which may be fashioned from tubular stock penetrates the sleeve 25 and is rigidly secured to the yoke 23 at its lower end. The upper end of the steering column 26 is provided with a suitable coupling means, such as a T-coupling 27, for the reception of a horizontally disposed elongated rod 28 transverse to the vertical steering column 26, the elongated rod 28 serving as a handle bar for adjusting the direction of movement of the tracking wheel 16. I

It will be apparent that the steering column 26 ably received within the tubular sleeve 25 and has its lower end rigidly affixed to the yoke 23 carrying the tracking wheel 16 so as to pivot the yoke 23 and the tracking wheel 16 carried thereby about an axis transverse to the axis of the stub axle 22 for the tracking wheel 16 whenever handle bar 28 is moved in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction by an operator. In the particular illustrated embodiment, the steering column 26 includes a short tubular extension 30 rigidly connected to its lower end for slidable reception within the tubular sleeve 25 and rigid securement to the yoke 23 (FIGURE 6). The upper and lower ends of the tubular sleeve 25 preferably have thrust bearings 31, 31 of the anti-friction ball hearing type to insure free pivotal movement of the steering column extension 30 within the tubular sleeve 25.

A container or hopper 32 is carried by the frame 10 intermediate its forward and rear end frame members 13, 14. The hopper 32 is adapted to receive a cementitious composition, such as grouting material, which is of semi-plastic consistency for application in the gap or groove formed between adjacent concrete slabs in accordance with the present invention. The hopper 32 has an open top of substantial area and tapers to an open bottom of greatly reduced area as compared to the open top, the bottom of the hopper 32 defining an elongated opening 33 communicating with an extrusion chamber 34 as will be hereinafter described.

The hopper 32 is supported on the frame 10 by a pair of cross pieces 35, 35 in the form of angle irons extending between the side frame members 11, 12 and having their opposite ends rigidly affixed thereto, the cross pieces 35, 35 being spaced from each other along the longitudinal extent of the frame 10 for receiving corresponding sidewalls of the hopper 32 to form a rigid support therefor, it being noted that the lowermost portion of the hopper 32 passes through the open frame 10 and protrudes therebeneath. The hopper 32 is further supported by a is slid- V grappling rail 36 disposed at the rearward end portion thereof and comprising a pair of upwardly divergent side brace members 37, 37 rigidly afiixed to the respective side frame members 11, 12 and a pair of convergent top brace members 49, 44 each of which has one end rigidly secured to a corresponding side brace member 37 and the other end rigidly secured to the other top brace member 49, as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 4. It will be noted that the top brace members 4t 49 of the grappling rail 36 extend above the hopper 32 and may be grasped by a grappling hook or other means associated with a crane or similar lifting apparatus for raising and lowering the joint-forming apparatus in moving the joint-forming apparatus to desired locations.

Referring now to the extrusion chamber 34 communicating with the interior of the hopper 32 through the elongated bottom opening 33 thereof, it will be observed in FIGURE 6 that the extrusion chamber 34 is formed by an elongated cylindrical casing 41 which has an opening in the upper portion thereof intermediate its ends for alinement with the elongated bottom opening 33 in the hopper 32. The elongated cylindrical casing 41 is rigidly connected to the bottom of the hopper 32 by means of a hollow jacket 42 of substantially rectangular form and having crescent-shaped cut-outs in its opposite end walls shaping the lower marginal edges thereof to smoothly merge with the cylindrical casing 41 along the end boundaries of the opening in the upper portion thereof. From FIGURES 1 and 3, it will be observed that the jacket 42 connects the cylindrical casing 41 with the bottom of the hopper 32, so as to aline the bottom opening 33 in the hopper 32 with the opening in the upper portion of the cylindrical casing 41 leading to the extrusion chamber 34 (FIGURE 6) An extrusion screw or Worm 43 having a horizontally disposed axis is mounted for rotary movement in the chamber 34, the extrusion screw 43 being rotated by a driving means to be presently described for forcing a semi-plastic cementitious composition, such as grouting material, from the extrusion chamber 34 into and out of a discharge nozzle 44 located at the forward end of the extrusion chamber 34 and extending beneath the housing 41 in a rearwardly inclined manner. It will be noted that the lower end of the discharge nozzle 44 is disposed at a location above the lower periphery of the tracking wheel 16 and to the rear thereof in alinement therewith along the longitudinal extent of the apparatus.

Compacting means are provided to the rear of the discharge nozzle 44 for packing and compressing the grouting material extruded from the discharge nozzle 44 in the gap or groove which is to be filled with the grouting composition. The compacting means takes the form of a roller 45 which has a transversely concave outer surface, the compacting roller 45 being sufficiently wide to straddle the gap or groove with its opposite ends resting on the upper surfaces of the adjacent concrete slabs having the gap or groove defined therebetween, as shown in FIG- URE 7.

Means are provided for mounting the compacting roller 45 beneath the frame 19 for arcuate movement between an extended position in which the compacting roller 45 engages the adjacent concrete slabs between which the gap is defined in operating position (FIGURES l and 7) and a retracted position in which the compacting roller 45 is spaced above the concrete slabs (FIGURE 3) in inoperative position. The mounting means for the com pacting roller 45 comprises a segmental roller support 4-6 which extends downwardly from the frame It? alongside opposite sides of the compacting roller 45 to rotatably receive axle extensions projecting from each side of the compacting roller 45. The segmental roller support 46 is in the form of upper and lower oppositely disposed U-shaped support members 47, 50 connected in back-toback relationship. The legs of the upper U-shaped support member 47 are disposed on opposite sides of the cylindrical casing 41 forming the extrusion chamber 34, being penetrated by respective pins 48 extending transversely from the opposite sides of the cylindrical casing so as to mount the segmental roller support 46 for pivotal movement about the pins 48. The legs of the lower U- shaped support member 59 are suitably apertured for rotatable reception of extrusion axles on opposite sides of the compacting roller 45.

As previously noted, the upper and lower U-shaped support members 47, 59 comprising the segmental roller support 46 are connected in back-to-back relationship wherein their respective bridging portions are maintained in abutment with each other by an adjustable fastener means 49 (FIGURE 6). As shown in FIGURE 6, the fastener means 49 may take the form of a bolt extending through alined apertures centrally disposed in the bridging portions of the upper and lower U-shaped support members 47, 5d and a nut threadably received on one end of the bolt protruding outwardly of the alined apertures.

It will be observed that tightening of the fastener means 49 by threading the nut upwardly on the shank of the bolt to clamp the bridging portions of the upper and lower U-shaped support members 47, 55 between the head of the bolt and the nut will fixedly secure the support members 4'7, 59 together so as to prevent vertical tilting movement of the compacting roller 45. Loosening of the fastener means 49 by appropriate manipulation of the nut to move it downwardly on the shank of the bolt, while retaining the connection between the support members 47, 5%, permits the lower support member 5% to pivot about the shank of the bolt with respect to the upper support member 47, thereby providing for vertical tilting movement of the compacting roller 45, if desired. Where the surface being traversed by the apparatus is uneven or rough, the adjustment of the fastener means 49 to permit vertical tilting movement of the compacting roller 45 allows the compacting roller 45 to compensate for such surface irregularities. As best shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, a scraper bar 51 extends laterally across the compacting roller 45, being mounted at its opposite ends on the legs of the lower support member 5% and including an nrcuate intermediate portion complementary to the transversely concaved outer surface of the compacting roller 45 to scrape excess grouting material from the compacting roller 45 during the operation of the apparatus in applying grouting material to a gap or groove.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided to operably connect the compacting roller 45 to the forward tracking wheel 16 of the apparatus for retracting the compacting roller 45 from its normal extended position in engagement with the surfaces of the adjacent concrete slabs defining the gap or groove therebetween in which grouting material is to be applied, such means being responsive to the pivotal movement of the tracking wheel 16 in a direction disposing the tracking wheel 16 at an angle with respect to the longitudinal extent of the apparatus to retract the compacting roller 45 to an inoperative position spaced above the concrete slabs. As best shown in FIGURES 3, 4, 6 and 9, the latter means includes a forwardly disposed pulley 52 rotatable about a vertical axis, the pulley 52 being secured in depending relation from the frame it? by a mounting bracket 53 (FIGURE 3) afixed to one of the strut members 24 supporting the steering mechanism of the apparatus and extending therebeneath. A second rearwardly disposed pulley 54 rotatable about a horizontal axis is secured beneath the frame ltl by a mounting bracket 55 (FIGURE 3) having a bifurcated lower end for reception of the pulley 54 therein (FIGURE 8). A coiled tension spring 56 is attached at one end to one leg of the upper support member 47 of the segmental roller support 46 carrying the compacting roller 45 by suitable means, such as attaching the end of the spring 56 to a lug projecting from the leg of the upper support member 47. A line or cord 57 7 is attached to the opposite end of the spring 56, the line 57 being entrained about the pulley 54 and the pulley 52 and having its other end attached to an anchor arm 58 (FIGURES 4 and 9) rigidly ailixed to the yoke 23 carrying the tracking wheel 16 and projecting laterally thereof. Thus, upon moving the handle bar 28 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to rotate the steering column 2.6 within the tubular sleeve 25 for pivoting the tracking wheel 16 in either direction away from alinernent with the longitudinal extent of the apparatus, it will be observed that such pivotal movement of the tracking wheel 16 causes corresponding arcuate movement of the anchor arm 58 (as shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 9) to draw the line 57 entrained about the pulleys 52 and 54 in a direction increasing the tension in the spring '6 causing the compacting roller 45 to be raised to a retracted position spaced above the concrete slabs, as in FIGURE 3.

Driving means for propelling the apparatus and for providing power to rotate the extrusion screw 43 are mounted on the rear portion of the frame. The driving means includes a suitable engine or motor, such as an internal combustion engine 69, for supplying power to a gear reduction unit 61 through a pulley and belt drive 62 which in turn rotates a power shaft 63 by suitable means, such as a chain and sprocket drive 64 (FlGURES 1, 2 and 5). As best seen in FIGURE 6, the forward end of the pen er shaft 63 includes an enlarged collar portion thereon having a pair of sprockets 65, 66 adapted to co-operate with a corresponding pair of sprockets 67, 68 mounted therebeneath to drive the sprockets 67, 68 through chains '7 a, 7i entrained about the sets of sprockets 6:7, 67 and 66, 68 respectively. Referring to FIGURE 6, it will be observed that the rearwardly disposed chain and sprocket drive comprising the sprockets 66, 63 and the chain 71 drives an operating shaft 72 supplying power to the gear ditlerential 29 to positively rotate the rear pair of wheels 15, 15, the sprocket being fixedly secured to the driven operating shaft 72. The forward chain and sprocket drive comprising the sprockets 65, 67 and the chain 76 drives the extrusion screw &3 for forcing grouting material from the discharge nozzle 24 of the apparatus, the sprocket 67 being fixedly secured to an extension of the extrusion screw 43 protruding rearwardly of the chamber 34.

A suitable form of clutch means, such as a gravity clutch 73 is associated with the pulley and belt drive 62 (FIGURE 1), the gravity clutch 73 including a clutch face adapted to frictionally engage the pulley of the pulley and belt drive 62 to impart rotation to a power transmission shaft 74 on which the gravity clutch 73 is secured against relative rotation with respect thereto, whereby the chain and sproc'et drive 64 is driven to rotate the power shaft 63 when the internal combustion engine 6% is functioning at normal operating speed. It will be understood that upon throttling down the speed of operation of the internal combustion engine 69 by manually operating a throttle 75 affixed to the steering column 26, the nature of the gravity clutch 73 is such as to release its clutch face from the pulley of the belt and pulley drive 62, thereby stopping rotation of the gravity clutch 73, the power transmission shaft 74, the chain and sprocket drive 6 and the power shaft 63. Accordingly, rotation of the extrusion screw 43 ceases at idling speeds of the internal combustion engine so to prevent the discharge of excessive grouting material when the apparatus is stopped while t e internal combustion engine 66 is still running.

In order to prevent movement of the apparatus with out necessitating the stopping or throttling down of the internal combustion engine 69, means are provided in the form of an extra wheel 76 which is movable between a normal retracted position (FIGURES 1 and 3) and an extended position to raise one of the rear wheels 15, 15 from the ground, as illustrated in FIGURE 10, thereby preventing the movement of the apparatus. Of course, the

extrusion screw 43 will continue to rotate when the extra wheel 76 has been moved to extended position so as to raise one of the rear Wheels 15, 15 from the ground in stopping the movement of the apparatus, if the internal combustion engine 63 is allowed to run at normal operating speed. This continued rotation of the extrusion screw 43 under such circumstances is of no consequence when the hopper 32 and the extrusion chamber 34 have been emptied of grouting material, and may be useful in certain situations to relieve a clogged condition within the hopper 32 or extrusion chamber 34. Otherwise, the internal combustion engine 645 will normally be throttled down to operate at an idling speed when the extra wheel.

76 is moved to an extended position to prevent the discharge of excessive grouting material, since the internal combustion engine 69 must be throttled down or stopped to discontinue rotation of the extrusion screw 43. It will be noted that the extra Wheel 76 depends from the rear end frame member 14, being secured thereto by extensible mounting means 77 including a plurality of toggle links 89 pivotally interconnected together and extending on opposite sides of the extra wheel 76 for pivotal connection to a U-shaped yoke member 81 in which the extra wheel 76 is mounted for rotation. A lever arm 82 is rigidly affixed to one corresponding pair of toggle links 89 and may be rised and lowered to effect retraction and extension of the extensible mounting means 77 for raising and lowering the extra wheel 76 with respect to the surface on which the apparatus stands. Upon moving the lever arm 82 downwardly (FIGURE 11), the effective length of the plurality of pivotally interconnected toggle links 36 is increased to extend the extensible mounting means 77 for lowering the extra wheel 76 into engagement with the surface on which the apparatus stands and below the rear wheel 15 adjacent thereto. The rear wheel 15 adjacent to the extended extra wheel 76 is thereby raised from the surface on which the apparatus stands, as shown in FIGURE 10, to prevent further movement of the apparatus.

It will be understood that the provision of the extra wheel 76 on the apparatus also provides a means whereby the apparatus may be manually rolled on the tracking wheel 16, extended extra wheel 76 and the rear wheel 15 remote from the extra wheel 76 to a desired location without requiring a clutch means for disengaging the extrusion screw 43 from its driving means to prevent continued extrusion of grouting material as the apparatus is manually moved about the premises with the internal combustion engine 65) operating at an idling speed or being stopped. When the extra wheel 76 is lowered to extended position in engagement with the surface on which the apparatus stands to raise the rear wheel 15 adjacent thereto, the gear differential 24 is unlocked to permit the other rear wheel 15 to be rotated or rolled across a surface together with the extended extra wheel 76 by the manual application of a force against the apparatus, such as would be achieved by pushing the apparatus, while the extrusion screw 43 remains stationary to prevent additional discharge of grouting material.

It will be observed that a vertical cylindrical bar 83 is rigidly afiixed at its lower end to the yoke member 81 and extends through a tube 84 rigidly secured to the rear end frame member 14 and forming the upper portion of the extensible mounting means 77 with the upper pair of toggle links 8-9 being pivotally attached to the opposite sides thereof. The upper portion of the cylindrical bar 83 extends above the tube 84- and is encircled by a coil spring 85. The lower end of the coil spring 85 is seated against the tube 84 and the upper end of the spring 85 is seated agm'nst a collar member 86 rigidly afilxed about the cylindrical bar 83. The coil spring 85 serves as a means to retain the extra wheel 76 in its normal retracted position (FIGURES 1-3, inclusive) spaced above the surface on which the apparatus stands when both rear wheels 15, 15 are in engagement with the surface on which the apparatus stands and the E extra wheel 76 is not in use. In this connection, the coil spring 85 is under compression and biases the collar member 86 fixedly secured to the cylindrical bar 83 upwardly to retain the cylindrical bar 83 and the extra wheel 76 dependingly attached thereto in a raised retracted position when the extra Wheel '76 is not in use.

Method of Operation In the construction of a building requiring concrete slabs or beams as supports therefor, such concrete slabs commonly include beveled longitudinal edges thereon so as to define a wedge-shaped groove G between adjacent concrete slabs, as illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8. When it is desired to form a strong joint between adjacent concrete slabs, the slabs are positioned closely adjacent to each other, wherein the aforesaid wedge-shaped groove G is defined therebetween. The forward tracking wheel 16 of the apparatus for applying grouting material is then inserted within the groove G so as to engage the oppositely disposed sidewalls of the groove G defined by the beveled longitudinal edges of the adjacent concrete slabs (FIG- URE 6). The positioning of the tracking wheel 16 within the groove G in this manner alines the discharge nozzle 44 with the groove G and the compacting roller 45 which follows is disposed in straddling relation to the groove G with its opposite end portions in engagement with the surfaces of the adjacent concrete slabs. Upon operating the internal combustion engine 66 to drive the rear wheels 15, 15 the apparatus moves forwardly, being guided along the groove G by the forward tracking wheel 16 received therein, while semi-plastic grouting material in the hopper 32 passes into the extrusion chamber 34 and is extruded from the extrusion chamber 34 by the screw 43 and dispensed from the discharge nozzle 44 in the length of the groove G. The compacting roller 45 following the discharge nozzle 44 then packs and compresses the semiplastic grouting material to shape the joint substantially flush with the surfaces of the adjacent concrete slabs in a finished manner.

Upon traversing the entire longitudinal extent of the groove G between a pair of adjacent concrete slabs, the operator moves the handle bar 28 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to pivot the tracking wheel 16 into an angular relation to the longitudinal extent of the apparatus preparatory to turning the apparatus and alining the tracking wheel 16 with another groove for applying grouting material therein. As the operator so pivots the steering column 26, the anchor arm 58 is moved to one of the phantom line positions shown in FIGURE 9 to cause the line 57 to be drawn forwardly about the pulleys 52 and 54, thereby increasing the tension in the coil spring 56 and raising the compacting roller 45 to a retracted position spaced above the surfaces of the concrete slabs (FIGURE 3). In this Way, cocking of the compacting roller 45 within the groove G as the apparatus is being maneuvered into a new position to mar the appearance and adversely affect the strength of the finished joint is prevented. Moreover, frictional dragging of the compacting roller 45 across the surfaces of the concrete slabs is eliminated to facilitate the turning of the apparatus and to preclude any scufiing or defacing of the surfaces of the concrete slabs as the turning of the apparatus is accomplished.

Whenever the operator desires to stop the movement of the apparatus while the motor or internal combustion engine 60 erefor continues to operate, the extra wheel 76 is lowered by moving the lever arm 82 downwardly (FIGURE 11) to displace one of the rear wheels 15, 15 from the surface of the concrete slab on which it normally rests, thereby stopping further movement of the apparatus. By appropriate manipulation of the throttle 75, the operator can cause the internal combustion engine 69 to operate at an idling speed to cease rotation of the extrusion screw 43 and stop the dispensing of grouting material from the discharge nozzle 44 as previously deid scribed. The operator may also utilize the lowered extra wheel 76 with the other rear wheel 15 and the forward tracking wheel 16 to manually move the apparatus about the premises.

Thus, it will be seen that we have disclosed an improved apparatus for applying grouting material in the gap or groove formed between adjacent concrete slabs, wherein the completed joint possesses a neat finished appearance exhibiting strength capable of withstanding stresses and strains of considerable magnitude.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for installing joint material between adjacent concrete slabs having complementary edges defining a groove in which the joint material is to be received, said apparatus comprising a wheeled frame, a hopper for receiving semi-plastic joint material carried by said frame, means for dispensing semi-plastic joint material from said hopper into the groove between adjacent concrete slabs, a tracking wheel for reception within the groove secured to said frame for pivotal movement about an axis normal to the axis of said tracking wheel, compacting means, means mounting said compacting means beneath said frame for movement between an extended position in engagement with the adjacent concrete slabs and straddling the groove and a retracted position spaced above the concrete slabs, said tracking wheel being disposed forwardly of said dispensing means and said compacting means being disposed rearwardly of the point at which said dispensing means discharges joint material, and means responsive to pivotal angular movement of said tracking wheel with respect to the longitudinal extent of said frame for retracting said compacting means from extended position.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for retracting said compacting means from extended position comprises a first pulley mounted on said frame adjacent to said tracking wheel, a second pulley mounted on said frame remote from said tracking wheel, a line entrained about said first and second pulleys, one end of said line being operatively connected to said mounting means of said compacting means, and the other end of said line being operatively connected to said tracking wheel, whereby pivotal angular movement of said tracking wheel with respect to the longitudinal extent of said frame advances said line about said first and second pulleys to pull said mounting means of said compacting means in a direction raising said compacting means to retracted position.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein a spring is interposed between said one end of said line and said mounting means of said compacting means, the opposite ends of said spring being respectively attached to said one end of said line and said mounting means of said compacting means.

4. An apparatus for installing joint material between adjacent concrete slabs having complementary edges defining a groove therebetween in which the joint material is to be received, said apparatus comprising a wheeled frame, a hopper for receiving semi-plastic joint material carried by said frame, a nozzle for discharging semiplastic joint material into the groove between the adjacent concrete slabs communicating with said hopper, a tracking wheel for reception within the groove secured to said frame for pivotal movement about an axis normal to the axis of said tracking wheel, a compacting roller, means mounting said compacting roller beneath said frame for movement between an extended position in engagement with the adjacent concrete slabs and straddling the groove and a retracted position spaced above the concrete slabs, said tracking wheel being disposed forwardly of said discharge nozzle and said compacting roller being disposed rearwardly thereof, said tracking wheel, said discharge nozzle, and said compacting roller being in alinement along the longitudinal extent of said frame, and means responsive to pivotal angular movernent of said tracking wheel with respect to the longitudinal extent of said frame for retracting said compacting roller from extended position.

5. An apparatus for installing joint material between adjacent concrete slabs having complementary edges defining a groove therebetween in which the joint material is to be received, said apparatus comprising a Wheeled frame, a hopper for receiving semi-plastic joint material carried by said frame, a casing mounted beneath said frame and having an extrusion chamber communicating with the bottom of said hopper, said casing having a nozzle depending therefrom, means in said chamber to extrude semi-plastic joint material into said nozzle for discharge into the groove between adjacent concrete slabs, a tracking Wheel for reception within the groove secured to said frame for pivotal movement about an axis normal to the axis of said tracking wheel, a compacting roller, means mounting said compacting roller beneath said frame for movement between an extended position in engagement with the adjacent concrete slabs and straddling the groove and a retracted position spaced above the concrete slabs, said tracking Wheel being disposed forwardly of said discharge nozzle and said compacting roller being disposed rearwardly thereof, said tracking wheel, said discharge nozzle, and said compacting roller being in alinement along the longitudinal extent of said frame, and means responsive to pivotal anguit i lar movement of said tracking wheel with respect to the longitudinal extent of said frame for retracting said compacting roller from extended position.

6. An apparatus for installing joint material in a joint between adjacent sections of rigid material, said apparatus comprising a frame, a hopper for receiving semiplastic joint material carried by said frame, means for dispensing semi-plastic joint material from said hopper into the joint between adjacent sections of rigid material, tracking means for reception within the joint secured to said frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis normal to the longitudinal extent of said frame, compacting means, means mounting said compacting means heneath said frame for movement between an extended position in engagement with the adjacent sections of rigid material and straddling the joint therebetween and a retracted position spaced above the sections of rigid material, said tracking means being disposed forwardly of said dispensing means and said compacting means being disposed rearwardly of the point at which said dispensing means discharges joint material, and means responsive to pivotal angular movement of said tracking means with respect to the longitudinal extent of said frame for retracting said compacting means from extended position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,045,256 Voight et a1. June 23, 1936 2,218,510 Albertson et al. Oct. 22, 1940 2,636,425 Heltzel Apr. 28, 1953 2,829,906 Hull Apr. 8, 1958 2,870,695 Kellogg Jan. 27, 1959 2,966,951 Lang Jan. 3, 1961 

6. AN APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING JOINT MATERIAL IN A JOINT BETWEEN ADJACENT SECTIONS OF RIGID MATERIAL, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A FRAME, A HOPPER FOR RECEIVING SEMIPLASTIC JOINT MATERIAL CARRIED BY SAID FRAME, MEANS FOR DISPENSING SEMI-PLASTIC JOINT MATERIAL FROM SAID HOPPER INTO THE JOINT BETWEEN ADJACENT SECTIONS OF RIGID MATERIAL, TRACKING MEANS FOR RECEPTION WITHIN THE JOINT SECURED TO SAID FRAME FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS NORMAL TO THE LONGITUDINAL EXTENT OF SAID FRAME, COMPACTING MEANS, MEANS MOUNTING SAID COMPACTING MEANS BENEATH SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN EXTENDED POSITION IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ADJACENT SECTIONS OF RIGID MATERIAL AND STRADDLING THE JOINT THEREBETWEEN AND A RETRACTED POSITION SPACED ABOVE THE SECTIONS OF RIGID MATERIAL, SAID TRACKING MEANS BEING DISPOSED FORWARDLY OF SAID DISPENSING MEANS AND SAID COMPACTING MEANS BEING DISPOSED REARWARDLY OF THE POINT AT WHICH SAID DISPENSING MEANS DISCHARGES JOINT MATERIAL, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO PIVOTAL ANGULAR MOVEMENT OF SAID TRACKING MEANS WITH RESPECT TO THE LONGITUDINAL EXTENT OF SAID FRAME FOR RETRACTING SAID COMPACTING MEANS FROM EXTENDED POSITION. 